Buses disobeying night travel ban risk losing TLB licences

By Cyrus Ombati

Kenya: Police plan to revoke Transport Licensing Board licenses for buses that fail to heed the ban on night travels.

This is after 47 more drivers were Sunday night arrested in an operation in the country.

Traffic commandant Samuel Kimaru said those nabbed were driving past the 6pm, which is classified as night.

“We are considering revoking all TLB licenses for these buses that ignore the ban. We believe this will work out,” said Kimaru.

The arrest of 47 drivers increased the number of those nabbed in the week long exercise. So far police have arrested and charged more than 400 drivers.

Police said 66 were arrested on Saturday night on various roads, 98 on Friday night and 84 on Thursday.

Kimaru said no driver has so far been issued with a license to travel at night and reiterated the ban is still in place.

He added they plan to involve all police officers in the operation in a bid to curb road carnage.

“We have not had a single accident since the ban came into effect and we intend to continue with the operation. No driver has been allowed to travel at night with passengers,” he said.

The directive was issued last Wednesday by Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli in line with new regulations gazetted on December 17, that require PSV operators who wish to operate at night to apply for a special licence.

This followed an accident that claimed 18 people when two buses collided head-on along Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Drivers who ignore the ban risk a Sh50,000 fine or two years jail term, said Kimaru.

The ban has been forcing most passengers to spend their nights at police stations, on the road sides and trading centres in fear of being arrested.

Kimaru said most police stations are now hosting passengers at night after the ban took effect.

“Some have been staying on roads until morning. They light fires to warm themselves and go on through the night,” he said.

Worst hit were those passengers who prefer travelling to their rural homes to join their families for the annual celebrations.

Also many who thronged various bus termini hoping to catch buses at night were forced to cancel their journey after spending hours on verandas as celebrations went on in their rural homes.

Police boss David Kimaiyo says road carnage has reduced significantly since a night ban on buses and trucks was imposed.

Mr Kimaiyo said the ban would remain in force until sanity on the roads is restored to curb further loss of lives.

“Having seen the positive results after imposing the ban on buses that travel at night, the next move is now to ensure the alcoblow kits are supplied in all parts of the country,” he said.

Matatu Welfare Association Chairman Dickson Mbugua has condemned the ban and declared it was unfair and infringement on the rights of commuters and matatu operators, for the government to act, without any notice.

Mbugua said matatu operators had suffered losses in excess of Sh10 million since the ban on night travels started on the Christmas eve.

He said the situation was worse because many commuters had booked well in advance up to January 6 when those who travelled home are expected to resume work and making changes to conform to the government guidelines during this festive season was not easy.

Mbugua said matatu operators had suffered losses in excess of Sh10 million since the ban on night travels started.

Also affected were businesses that relied on passengers who travel at night.